desert sand feels warm at night | fish & fuses day 1

desert sand feels warm at night - I

I didn't know how long I'd been running for. It could've been 5 minutes, it could've been 25 minutes. I just knew that I needed to get away from the noise and out into… well, who knows what was out here? I found myself running into the rolling hills of sand, extending out into the distance as far as the eye could see. I passed mound after mound as the sands of time continued their count.

Finally the music seemed far enough away that I could hazard a pause, a look behind me. Between laboured breaths my eyes darted around for the glint of sun off of a weapon poised ready to strike me down. None came, only vague dots and details visible in the darkness that was descending around us. I started to relax. My running had earned me a moment to rest and gather my bearings of my new chaotic world.

As the adrenaline wore down its protection from the throbbing of my right wrist went with it. Looks like I didn't make it out unscathed after all. I inspect it - just a bruise. Straightforward enough to know how to take care of it, and by tomorrow it will be just a memory. If I make it that far.

That's when I remember the fishnets I didn't have the chance to put on. For a moment I think there's a high chance that I dropped them in my haste to get away from the carnage, but then my hands touch the strange fabric. As I pull them on I pause. Wait a minute… are they… glowing? As I stare they do, a bit clearer the more the deep blue takes over the faint warms of a sun now well below the horizon, rivaling the specks of faint light from the stars that are now appearing little by little.

I'm a bit in awe of the night sky like this. Back in three there's always too much light pollution to see anything other than the murky grey of district lights shining back down at us all. I don't remember the last time I've even seen a star before, and now here I am surrounded by the brilliant speckles of billions of distant suns. I'm so wrapped up in the magic of it all that I don't notice the parachute that drops in the sand to my right until it lands. A sponsor gift? This early? I can't hide the grin that breaks across my face as I sift my feet through the sand in its direction. Looks like I've already got some fans out there. I reach the parachute and open the little parcel its connected to. Inside is a bag made of some sort of durable material. I open it up to find its contents include 3 iodine tablets and a Walkie-Talkie. Nothing too much yet, it seems. The iodine tablets remind me of the desert I'm in, and how soon water will become a need. Not to mention food. In a desert the task of survival seems like it's a Mutt of its own in this arena.

Lucky I'm a resourceful gal.

I also know that I won't survive long out here on my own. I need to find Sera and Tide. I saw them, I know they got out of that bloodbath alive, now where did they end up? Did they get followed by the others? Perhaps they're already dead. A chill runs down my spine that has nothing to do with the coolness of the night settling in. Strange how quickly you turn to needing someone in a place like this.

I start to wander around in a bit of a panic, trying to think of what to do. Is it worth it to keep venturing out at night, or should I stay put and find them in the morning? What if there is no morning? I weigh that option too. Low vision makes paranoia a threat, but the cooler air might help survival. The desert sand at my feet still feels warm to the touch. Would it be worth it? Am I overthinking?

Then I spot the figures approaching. Crap, they probably see these damn leggings I think to myself, still reflexively dropping to the ground as if it would do me any good. It's hard to make out the silhouettes at first, but then I see clearly; the boy and the girl I've been looking for.

Relief relaxes the paranoia and the overthinking. I give my head a light smack. Get it together, Saf. The chaos at the Cornucopia still had my head in a buzz, but I knew I couldn't let this happen again. Get my head in the game. The only other option is death.

Which means there is no other option.

My two allies reach me in a matter of minutes. "There you are!" I greet them, "I was getting worried you guys didn't make it out of there. Any idea where half of the competition is?"